What are the schools like in Hempstead, NY?

Hempstead is served primarily by HEMPSTEAD UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 20.3:1.

What is the median household income in Hempstead?

The median household income in Hempstead, NY is $80,350 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.4%.

What is the weather like in Hempstead, NY?

Hempstead has an average high temperature of 41.6°F in January and 86.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 18.5 inches.

Hempstead, NY Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Hempstead, NY affordable or expensive?

Hempstead's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hempstead is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $421,300 and the median rent is $1,670 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Hempstead, NY?

Hempstead has a violent crime rate of 133.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1044.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Hempstead, NY a Good Place to Live?

Hempstead is a mid-sized city of 58,557 in New York, with a median household income of $80,350 and a 8.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Hempstead's profile is close to national averages across most measures.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Hempstead is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Hempstead city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 112.5

Hempstead's overall cost of living index is 112.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hempstead costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric	Hempstead, NY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$421,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,670	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	44.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$80,350	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Hempstead's violent crime rate is 133.0 per 100,000 residents — 65% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

133.0 /100k

Property Crime

1044.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Hempstead is served primarily by HEMPSTEAD UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.3:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Hempstead, NY	National Avg
School District	HEMPSTEAD UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	20.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	74.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hempstead sees average highs of 41.6°F in January and 86.5°F in July, with 45.3 inches of annual precipitation and 18.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Hempstead, NY
Average High — January	41.6°F
Average High — July	86.5°F
Annual Precipitation	45.3"
Annual Snowfall	18.5"

Demographics

Metric	Hempstead, NY	National Avg
Population	58,557	—
Median Age	35.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	32.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	11.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	46.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	37.7%	18.9%
Asian	2.0%	6.3%
Under 18	23.4%	22.2%
65 and over	12.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Uniondale, NY 2 mi South Hempstead, NY 2 mi West Hempstead, NY 2 mi Garden City, NY 2 mi Garden City South, NY 2 mi

ZIP Codes in Hempstead

Hempstead, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

11550

Hempstead vs Other Cities

Hempstead, NY vs Uniondale, NY Hempstead, NY vs South Hempstead, NY Hempstead, NY vs West Hempstead, NY Hempstead, NY vs Garden City, NY Hempstead, NY vs Garden City South, NY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hempstead, NY affordable or expensive?

Hempstead's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Hempstead roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $421,300 and median rent is $1,670/month.

What is the crime rate in Hempstead, NY?

Hempstead's violent crime rate is 133.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1044.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Hempstead?

Public schools in Hempstead are operated by HEMPSTEAD UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.3:1. 17.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Hempstead, NY a good place to live?

Hempstead, NY has a population of 58,557, a median household income of $80,350, and an unemployment rate of 8.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Hempstead?

Hempstead averages 41.6°F in January and 86.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.3 inches with about 18.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Hempstead?

Hempstead, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 11550.

What is the population of Hempstead?

The population of Hempstead, New York is 58,557 with a median age of 35.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Hempstead?

Key numbers for living in Hempstead: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $421,300, median household income $80,350, crime index 41 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hempstead side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.